O'Neill Stalling
A sweet art collector who frequently purchases original works by
me really liked “O’Neill
#5.” He wanted to commission a continuation of the scene
between those two lads. I had sorta designed "O’Neill
#5" as a "one of." Although, I admit that I became attached
and invested in the characters, and I didn’t mind expanding their
history.
The collector had a few requests for the image, and one was to have
O’Neill looking and watching the action in the boy’s bathroom mirror. I
worked up a couple of ideas but I just couldn’t see O'Neill by a mirror.
He has relinquished responsibility for what is happening and what he is
feeling. Psychologically, someone in that much denial (“I’m not gay.”)
about what he is letting happen, someone in an almost fugue state,
wouldn't want to "see himself" even in a non-participatory pose. I
decided it would be okay if I somehow managed to incorporate an
alternate reflective surface.
My other concern was putting O’Neill in a position to have his ass
thusly accessible for nibbling while maintaining the totally aloof
attitude. I like a challenge and decided to give it the old college try.
I think the image is very much in character as I wanted to preserve the
psychological profile of the boys whilst moving their exploration
along... I really like "O'Neill Stalling" (official title).
— Michael Kirwan
O'Neill
Stalling — 2010 — 6½" x 10" |